The Sound and the Voice

Q: Would you like to compare and explain the difference between Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:9?

A: Thank you for your question. The only difference between the two verses is the perspective from which they are written. They are saying the exact same thing in both verses. Acts 9:7 says, "The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone." This verse is written from the perspective of what the men traveling with Paul (Saul) heard. Acts 22:9 says, "My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me." In this verse, Paul is describing that he heard a voice, but that the men traveling with him did not understand the voice. What Paul knew as a voice that the men traveling with him did not understand, the men knew only as a sound. In either case they did not hear the voice of the Lord, much less understand it.

A similar event occurred on the Day of Pentecost with the disciples of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:4 says, "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." While many of those in attendance heard the disciples speaking in their own language, others "made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine (Acts 2:13)."" Just like Paul, there were people in attendance on the Day of Pentecost who heard the disciples preaching to them in their own language. They heard what the Lord was saying. However, similar to Paul's companions, there were those that only responded to the event by assuming the disciples were drunk. They may have heard what was being said, but they either did not understand what was being said or did not care to listen to what was being said. It was just a "sound" to them in many ways. It just depends on whose perspective from which you look at the event.

When you are reading scripture, try to look at what is being said, who is saying it and to whom is being spoken to. In that way, these types of questions will often answer themselves and the scriptures will become more clear to you. Always be prayerful about difficulties in the scriptures. Ask questions like you have here and trust the Lord to reveal the truth to you. If you do not get an answer right away, or you do not get a satisfactory answer, trust that the Lord will reveal that to you when you are ready to understand it. Remember Paul's words to Timothy. "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Timothy 2:7)." Regardless of the questions you have about the Word of God, the Lord will give you understanding in everything. I pray God has given you understanding regarding your question about the verses in the book of Acts.